Western States 100: The Complete Course Guide for First-Timers

The Western States Endurance Run is the oldest and most prestigious 100-mile trail race in the world. If you've drawn the lottery or earned a golden ticket, here's what you're in for.

Course Overview

Distance: 100.2 miles | Elevation gain: 18,090 ft | Elevation loss: 22,970 ft | Cutoff: 30 hours

The course runs from Olympic Valley (elevation 6,200 ft) to Auburn (1,200 ft) through the Sierra Nevada mountains. The first 30 miles climb over two major passes above 8,000 feet before dropping into deep river canyons for the remainder.

The Major Sections

Miles 0–16: Escarpment to Robinson Flat. The hardest climbing of the race. You'll gain 2,550 feet to Emigrant Pass (8,750 ft), including snow crossings in many years. Expect 3.5–4.5 hours. Walk the climbs, eat early.

Miles 16–38: Robinson Flat to Foresthill. Mostly runnable single track through forests. This is where you bank time. The trail is well-shaded and relatively flat. Last Chance aid station (mile 43.3) is a crew access point.

Miles 38–62: Foresthill to the River Crossings. The famous Foresthill to Cal Street section. You drop 2,000 feet into the American River canyons. Temperatures can exceed 100°F in the canyons. This is where heat destroys unprepared runners.

Miles 62–78: River Crossings to Green Gate. You'll cross the American River (knee-deep, cold) and climb out of the canyon. The terrain is exposed and hot during the day. By now it's usually dark, and the climb out is soul-crushing.

Miles 78–100: Green Gate to Auburn. The final stretch through rolling trails. If you reach Green Gate within 24 hours, you're likely to finish. The last 6 miles into Auburn are mostly paved and runnable — the crowd energy will carry you.

Silver Buckle Strategy (Sub-24)

• Arrive at Robinson Flat by hour 4 (most sub-24 runners do)
• Don't blow up in the canyons — steady effort, aggressive cooling
• Maintain forward movement through the night — never sit for more than 3 minutes at an aid station
• Arrive at Green Gate (mile 79.8) by hour 20

The Lottery

Western States receives 5,000+ applications for 369 spots. Each year you enter without being selected, you get an additional ticket. Most runners wait 3–7 years for their name to be drawn.